Should Children Be Allowed to Get Bored? Children need time to stand and stare. They should be allowed to get bored to that they can develop their ability to be creative. Children are expected by their parents to be reading a textbook all the time. However, research shows that it may _ the development of their imagination, while boredom can give them opportunities to develop creativity. Boredom is often linked with loneliness, but a writer named Meera Syal said boredom had helped here in developing her mind. She told researchers about her childhood. Having few things todo, Syal often talked with her neighbors. She also tried to do things like learning to bake cakes. "But importantly, I Thought and wrote a lot, because I was bored," Syal said. She kept a diary, filling here time with short stories and poems she made up. Grayson Perry, an artist, grew up in a family with little money. He enjoyed himself by making up stories, drawing pictures for his stories and reading many books in the library. Bored but free, he spent hours looking out of the window, watching the changing clouds and seasons. Perry filled up his free time with what he liked. He became creative, because he could think freely. Dr. Belton is an expert on the effects of emotions on learning. "Boredom could be an uncomfortable feeling," she said. "But some young people cannot deal with that boredom creatively. So sometimes they may break a classroom window, or drive a car out for a mad race." Usually, when children have nothing to do, they would turn on the TV, the computer, or the phone. Their time on these things has increased, yet they need to have time to think about their experiences through play or just watching the world around them. It is this kind of thinking that can inspire the imagination. On the other hand, the TV or phone may cut short the thinking process. That can be harmful to the development of creativity. "For developing the ability to be creative," Dr. Belton advised, "perhaps we need to stand and stare, and stay off-line from... What can we learn from the passage? A) Boredom provides children with space to think freely. B) It's much better for children to be busy than be bored. C) Boredom helps children deal with difficulties properly. D) It's boring for children to think about their experiences.
A

"I believe you're the right person to write an advice column for the students called "Dear Amy!". Jenny, editor of the school newspaper, said to Andy, who finally agreed to accept the job if Jenny promised not to tell it to anyone else. At first it wasn't too bad. Most of the letters he received were interesting and quite easy to answer. Then came a letter from a person named Joe. "Dear Amy," it began, "I'm in real trouble. I've wanted to be a songwriter all my life, but my parents won't even let me take music lessons. I have a guitar, but they both get angry if I play. I've tried explaining, but they won't listen. I feel sad. Should I run away from home? Maybe that will make my parents agree." The letter signed "Joe". Andy thought about this letter for a long time. Should he advise someone to run away from home? Of course not. But didn't Joe have a right to be a songwriter if he wanted to? Andy thought hard, but couldn't think out a good answer. Andy couldn't sleep. He just worried about poor Joe. At a bar a few days later, Eleanor, a girl in Andy's Maths class, sat down next to him and asked, "What's wrong with you? You look a little worried." "I guess I do," said Andy. "If you got a problem, why don't you try writing to Amy about it?" asked Eleanor. Andy sighed  ; but she continued, "in fact, I guess Dear Amy is rather busy with other problems. She still hasn't answered the phony letter I wrote her last week. You'd better read it - it may even make the most hard-hearted person cry! It was signed Joe, a songwriter." How did Andy feel at Eleanor's last words? A) Excited. . B) Sad. C) Surprised. D) Worried.
C

One day, a boy had a fight with one of his classmates. He didn't wait until school was over, and hurried home to his grandfather. He told him his story angrily. "He is really bad," the boy said, "and I hate him." The grandfather said, "Let me tell you a story. When I was a boy, I, too, sometimes hated others for what they did..." As the boy listened carefully, the grandfather went on,"There are always two tigers inside my heart. One is good and kind. He gets on well with everything around him. But the other is bad and unfriendly. Even the smallest thing will make him angry. He fights with everyone all the time, and for no reason. He can't think carefully because he always hates others. It is difficult to live with these two tigers inside my heart. They both try to control me." The boy looked into his grandfather's eyes and asked,"Which tiger always controls you, Grandfather?" The old man said slowly and seriously, "The one that I feed. I always feed the good and kind tiger, so I never hate others and seldom get angry now." ,. The writer wants to tell us   _   in the passage. A) how to feed tigers well B) how to control our feelings C) how to get along with others D) how to fight with others
B

Sarah was ill, she went to see the doctor.   " Doctor, I'm not feeling well," she said. " Every time I do my homework, I feel tired. If I go to school on foot, I have to sit down and rest for ten minutes." The doctor looked at her carefully. At last he said, " Nothing much. But I'm afraid you are eating too much."  "I don't understand, what do you  mean ? "asked Sarah. "I mean you eat too much food," said the doctor.   " Oh! You mean I'm too fat. That's a problem." Said Sarah. "What should I do If I don't want to be heavy !"  " The answer is easy," said the doctor. " If you want to be thin and healthy, you shouldn't eat a lot of food and you also should do much exercise." _   is a problem. A) Eating less food B) Being too fat C) Working too hard D) Playing too much sports

B